Mussels...

So I'm considered a little weird in my family as I hardly eat any seafood, which makes the annual family announcement that we are having seafood for Christmas, annoying because it means I'll be having yet another cold chicken and alcohol lunch (And to be honest I don't eat much cold chicken)  however as a testament to Mr Jamie Oliver he had a recipe for mussels that I just had to make, like had too had too! So I did, with a few tweaks and everyone loved it (I had salt and pepper squid,)

Moroccan Mussels

1 kg of mussels
2 tsp harrissa paste (I made my own but you can get it in the supermarket)
3 cloves of garlic crushed
250g crushed tomato
Half a red onion diced
1 cup water
Crusty bread to serve

In a large fry pan, cook off the garlic and harrissa before adding the crushed tomatoes and water

Allow sauce to simmer for a couple of minutes before adding the mussels and placing a lid on the pan, cook until mussels have opened

Serve with bread, in big generous bowls












If like me, you are trying to reduce the amount of premade prepared food in you diet, this is the harissa recipe I used. As I was making it for my family who aren't super keen on chilli I reduced the amount to make a milder version

Harissa Paste

4 Red Chillies
3 Cloves of garlic
A small bunch of coriander root
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
Olive oil

In a mortar and pestle bash all ingredients except oil into a paste, you can add more or less of any of the ingredients so it tastes the way you like it, stir oil in when you are happy with the flavours, put into a clean jar and store in fridge, should keep for about 7 days

So easy so quick... Apparently so tasty, the sauce is really good if you soak it up with left over bread, just make sure no one sees you, otherwise they will steal it

Enjoy

This weekend I made a friends birthday cake so I'm going to share a photo of that too or two


Chocolate Mud Cupcakes and with Vanilla frosting

 

My Salt and Pepper squid with Sweet Corn Salsa